Paper handling machine



Sept. 29, 1931. R. HITCHCOCK PAPER HANDLING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Rzusnv fin-can: ci f F) ATTORNEY-f8,

Sept. 29; 1931.

R. HITCHCOCK PAPER HANDLING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE if REUBEN HITGHOOCK, OF BRATENAHL, OHIO, ASS IGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND FOLDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO PAPER HANDLING MACHINE Application filed March 26, 1928. Serial No. 264,823.

This invention relates to improvements in paper handling machines, particularly machines for handling sheets upon which a plurality ofsimilar or different signatures have been printed. The invention includes means for separating the original sheet into its individual' parts, imparting to the sheet as it progresses through the machine folds such that the completed signatures will eachhave the requisite number and arrangement of folds, and sorting or stacking the individual signatures in separate piles.

One of the objects of the invention is the reduction in the amount of handling necessary for the separation of multi-signature sheets into their individual parts and the folding and delivery of the same properly sorted.

Another object is the provision of means for cutting apart, folding and sorting in a single operation four signatures printed on one sheet, or any number less than four.

A further object is the provision of a machine whichwill cut apart and fold more than four signatures where some of the signatures are duplicates and do not require separate stacking.

Still another object is the provision of an additional working edge on the original sheet sothat the folding and cutting of the divisions of the sheet will be accurately aligned.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention which, for

the purposes-of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, in which F igure 1 is a plan view illustrating the ap-. plication of the invention'to a buckle type folding machine. I

Figures 2 and 3 are vertical sectional detail v1 ews illustrating the sorting mechanism in two different sheet feeding positions, these vie vs being taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1. V

Figure 4 1s a fragmental plan view, partly in section, of the sorting mechanism.

Figure 5 is a fragmental elevational View looking in the direction of the arrows 5 of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 66 of F igure 4;

In Figure 1 the first feed' table is shown at 10. It is provided with a series of horizontally arranged driven rolls l1 and a side guide 12. WVhen the sheet leaves table 10 it passes over feed rolls 13 and into the firstfold section A. Two of the rolls of this fold section are indicated 14, 15. The fold plates of this section are preferably arranged in horizontal planes. This fold section as well as the others hereinafter referred to are of the usual character employed in buckle fold machines,

as illustrated for example in my Patent No. 1,680,044, issued August 7, 1928. A detail disclosure in the present case is deemed unnecessary, inasmuch as the present invention is not concerned with such detail construction.

The fold section A comprises preferably four fold plates capable of' imparting to a sheet of paper passing through the section 4; parallel folds, but as is well known in the art, some or all of the fold plates may be rendered inoperative by the use of deflectors with the result that 1, 2, 3 or 4' folds may i be imparted to the sheet or none at all. Furthermore, by the proper selection of fold plates the top surface of the paper may be folded either in or out.

After leaving fold section A the sheets pass over guide rolls 16, 17, and aredirected through feed rolls 18, 19. These latter rolls are provided with rubber faced Wheels 20, whichfirmly grip the paper. The rolls 1,8, 19 also carry one or more pairs of slitting knives or cutters 21'for separating the sheets into two or more divisions along a line or lines parallel with that edge of the paper which was guided by the guide bar 12. Usually there will be one such pair of cutters, as illustrated Additional cutters 22 are mounted on rollers 18, 19 near one end thereof for trimming the edge of the paper re mote from the guided edge, thereby insuring two working edges parallel to each other.

As thepaper leaves the feed rollers 18, 19 it is delivered onto a cross-feed table 23 having a series of horizontal rollers 24 diagonally arranged, and a second series of similar rollers diagonally arranged, the rolls of these two series being inclined away from ea h other on the side of the table nearest the feed rolls 18, 19. The rollers 24 are all driven in one direction so as to feed paper toward the left as viewed in Figure 1, and the rollers 25 are all driven in the opposite direction so as to feed paper toward the right. 7

On the table 10 I have shown at 4 a fragment of a quadruple size sheet of paper. On the table 23 I have shown two folded divisions 2a and 2b. The folded edges of the divisions 2a and 2b which were their forward edges as the divisions were deposited in my patent above referred to.

Atthe ends of the table 23 and in position to receive the divisions 2a, 2?) from the table, are fold sections B and C. At the delivery end of fold section B there is a pair of feed rolls 29, which receive paper passing through that fold section and deliver it onto a feed table 31. The feed rolls 29, 30 may carry rotary cutters 32 for separating each of the divisions 2a into two individual signatures 1a, Ian. Similarly on the delivery side of the fold section G there are feed rolls 33, 34 which may carry rotary cutters 35 for slitting divisions 2b to form pairs of individual signatures 1b, 15?), which are deposit- 1 cd by the rolls 33, 34 onto a feed table 36.

The table 31 comprises diagonally arranged driven rollers 37 adapted to feed the signatures 1a, laa, in the direction indicated by the arrows, and the table 36 comprises rollers 38 of a similar nature adapted to feed the signatures 172, lbb, in single file relation as also indicated by arrows. These two tables have adjustable stop or guide bars 39 and 40 similar to the bars 26 and 27 and for a similar purpose. However, the bars 39 and 4-0 may be provided with means such as are'described in my patent, above referred to, for spacing the signatures apart.

Each of the tables 31 and 36 is adapted to deliver signatures to fold sections D and E, where the final folds may be imparted to the signatures 1a, Ma, 1?) and lbb. The fold section D delivers the finished signatures into a pair of feed rolls 45, and from these feed rolls the signatures are carried over into a sorting and stacking mechanism. The fold sc-.'tion E similarly delix ers the signatures it, 11)?) into the feed rolls which are substantially identical with the rolls 45, although reversely mounted. These rolls 45' feed the signatures into a sorting and stacking mechanism which is identical with the corresponding mechanism on the other side of the machine, except as to the reversal of parts, that is to say, one mechanism is a right and the other is a left. Accordingly I have illustrated in detail and will describe only the one located at the left hand side of the machine.

The sheet sorting and stacking mechanism is preferably mounted upon a separate frame so that it may be moved away from the folding machine proper when not needed. Suitable means are provided for holding the frame 50 up to the folding machine frame in rigid relation. The frame 50 carries a fixed guide plate 58 which is adapted to receive the paper delivered by the rolls 45 and to guide it into position to be acted upon by feed rolls on the shafts and 57 respectively. The feed rolls 60 on shaft 57 are all rubber surfaced. Those on shaft 55 are rubber surfaced also, with the exception of that roll 59 which appears on Figs. 2 and 3, that roll being steel surfaced. 61 is a deflector provided at its ends with trunnions 62 pivotally mounted in the frame 50. The shifting of the deflector 61 from the position of Figure 2 to that of Fig. 3 and back again serves to guide the sheets alternately into two different courses. The mechanism. by which this is accomplished will now be described.

A bar 63 of rectangular cross-section is fixed in the frame 50. A bracket 64 mounted upon the bar 63 and held in position by means ofa set-screw 65. A pintle 66 is fixed in the bracket 64 by means of a set-screw 67 and projects laterally from the bracket to sup port for pivotal movement a bell crank 68. The horizontal arm of the bell crank 68 is bifurcated for the reception and pivotal mounting of a crescent-shaped shoe 69 from the upper end of which projects a pin 70. The parts are so arranged preferably that theshoe 69 will stand as close as conveniently possible to one of the feed rolls 60.

The upright arm of the bell crank 68 is provided with an inclined head 71 which perforated for the reception of a stem 72 that is slidable to a slight extent in the head 71 and has acollar 7 3 fixed thereon for limiting such sliding movement in one direction. Sliding movement in the opposite direction is limited resiliently by a coil spring 74 surrounding the stem 7 2 and bearing at one end against the head 71 and at the other against a collar 75 fixed upon the stem 72. The upper end of the stem 72 is threaded inthe bar 63 and is provided with a knurled head 7 6 by means of which it may be turned, and with a knurled lock nut 77. By virtue of this arran gementthe pivot point for the shoe69 may be adjusted accurately and held positively against downward movement, but has the capability of yielding slightly whenever an un- I On usually thick sheet of paper tends to raise the shoe 69.

In order to hold the shoe 69 in the normal position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 and to return it to this position after being swung upon its pivot by a sheet of paper passing through the rolls 59, I connect the upper end of pin 20 with the fixed bar 63 by atension spring 78.

In one wall of the frame 50 above the shaft 57 I mount a stud. 79 having a square head. A pivot pin 80 is threadably mounted in the stud 79. On this pin 80 a bell crank lever 81 is pivotally mounted to swing horizontally through a small angle, as indicated by the full and dottedlin-e positions shown in F ig. 4. The long; arm of this lever has a bifurcated end which straddles the pin 70 by means of which motion imparted to the lever when ever the shoe 69 swings upon its pivot. The short arm of the lever 81 has'a downturncd lip 62 which'is adapted in the full line position of the lever to engage lingers 83 or 83 and in the dotted line position is adapted to engage lingers S4 or 84.

The action of spring 78, above mentioned, is limited by the fact that the bell crank 81' can swing no further, in response to the pull of spring 78, than the full line position of Fig. 4:. 1

These four fingers are rigidly mounted in the hub of mutilated gear 85 which is keyed to a. shaft 86 that is journaled in one side wall of the frame 50. A stud 87 is threaded into the rear 85 near the periphery thereof and constitutes a crank upon which is pivotally mounted one end of a. link 88, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected with apin 80 that is attachet to the deflector 61 near one thereof. .ar 90 is loosely mounted upon shaft ..side the rame 50 and is continuously driven. from near 56 by means of an interpos d idler 91. The ear 90, however, is pinned to a friction clutch 92 mounted upon the shaft 86. This clutch is'shown in dctai in Fig. 6. It consists of two blocks 93 and 9 1 provided with. curved. friction pieces shaped to lit the shaft 86, the two blocks being resiliently drawn together by studs 97 act in through coil springs 98, it being;- evident th. the degree of friction exertedupon the shaft may be controlled by the adjustment of the studs 97.

Adiacent the shaft 86 thereis also journaled a short shaft 99 carrying a gear100 which. meshes with and is driven by the gear 90. The 100 and the shaft 99 therefore rotate continuously. On the inner end of the shaft 99 there is keyed a gear 102 which is adapted to mesh with the teeth of gear 85 when. the toothed. portions of the latter are in position to permit such intermesh.

Between one wall of the frame 50 and abracket 1.03 secured to the: opposite wall, 1'.

mount shafts 104 and 105 carrying feed rolls 106 and 107. These rolls are adapted to receive sheets directed upwardly by the deflector 61 when in the position of F ig. 2 and to deliver them onto a slowly moving stacker belt 108. When the deflector 61 is in the position of Fig. 3 on the other hand, the sheets are guided downwardly by the under side of deflector 61 and the under side of a fixed deflector plate 109 onto a slowly running stacker belt 110 moving;- in a direction at right an gles to that of belt 108. 5

Operation: Assuming by way of example that it is desired to produce four complete folded signatures from a single sheet of paper 4. The right hand edge of the sheet, as viewed in Fig. 1, is an edge which is square with the printing on the sheet. This edge is drawn over against the guide 12 and by it properly directed into the fold section A, so that the folds imparted by that section will be square with the printing. After having the desired folds imparted to it in the fold sec .ion A, the sheet 4 passes through the feed rolls 18, 19 and is cut into a plurality of di i In the present visions by rotary cutters 21. instance one such cut is made, separating the sheet into two divisions 2a and 2b. WVhen these divisions strike the guide bars 26 and 27 they travel transversely to the direction of their previous movement and away from each other. The previouslyguided edge of the sheet 1 then becomes the forward edge of the division 25, and the edge of sheet 41 which was trimmed by the rotary cutters 22 becomes the forward edge of division 2a. The printingupon the divisions 2a and 26, there fore, comes square with the folds imparted by folding sections B and O as the paper passes through these sections, and by means of guide bars 39 and 410 the proper relation of the printing in the separate signatures 10., 1cm, 1?) and lbb'is maintained with respect to the fold sections D and E.

lVhen the cutters 32 and 35 are utilized each division 2a, 2b, isout into two signatures 1a, 1cm and 1b, 167). If the machine is set to impart a single fold in each of the fold sections there will be delivered to the sorting and stacking mechanisms four 16 page signatures made from each original sheet 4. If the machine is set to produce two folds in the fold section A and one each in the fold sections B, C, D and E four 32 page signatures will be delivered to the sorting andstacking mechanisms. Of course, it will be appreciated. that the folds may be otherwise distributed through the fold sections to give similar results, the number of folds govern-- in the number of pages to a signature. Also signatures of less than sixteen pages may be produced by reducing the number of folds to than three, and themachine may be utilized, if desired, to merely out sheets in to a. pluralityof sections without folding them at all, or for folding part of the sections and not the others. If more than one set of rotary cutters 21 is employed, a plurality of divisions of the original sheet will be caused to move in one direction upon the table 23, or in both directions if the character of the work should require it. Furthermore, a plurality of cutters 32 or 35 may be employed. However, the sorting mechanism illustrated will not function for more than four signatures from one sheet 4 unless some of the signatures are duplicates.

Referring now to the operation of the sort ing and stacking mechanism, assume that the movable deflector or flip-per" 61 and asso' ciated parts are in the position of Fig. 2 when the first sheet passes between the rolls 59, 60. The forward edge or fold of the sheet will swing the lower end of shoe 69 to the right. The pin 70 attached to the shoe will consequently move to the left and throw the bell crank lever 81 into the dotted line position of Fig. 4. hen this happens, the downturned lip 82 on the short arm of lever 81 disengages the finger 83 and permits the shaft 86 to be turned a short distance counter-clockwise, that is, through gear 90 and friction clutch 92, until the lip 82 engages finger 841, when the shaft 86 is again stopped. The shoe 69 is held in its tilted position until the rear edge of the folded sheet leaves the rolls 59, 60. The forward edge of the sheet is by that time traveling over the deflector 61 and an instant later is grasped by the rolls 106, 107. As soon as the lower end of the shoe 69 is free of the folded sheet the spring 78 swings the shoe back into normal position. At the same time the pin 70 swings the bell crank 81 back into full line position (Fig. 4). Thereby the lip 82 disengages the finger 81 and the shaft 86 is again rotated counterclockwise through the intermediacy of the gear 90 and friction clutch 92. The rotation of the shaft 86 tends to continue through a little less than 180, that is, until the finger '83 comes into contact with the lip 82 on the lever 81.

However, I provide also additional means for insuring a positive mechanical drive after the movement is started by the friction clutch connection between gear 90 and shaft 86. This consists of the gears 100 and 102 and shaft 99. In the normal position of the parts one of the flattened sides of the gear 85 is adjacent the teeth of gear 102. i

The movement of gear 85 through the slight angle represented by the angle between fingers 83 and 81 is not suflicient to cause the teeth of gear 85 to come into mesh with those of gear 102. However, when the lever 81 has swung back again to full line position and disengaged the finger 83, the clutch mechanism turns the gear 85 again counterclockwise and immediately one series of teeth in the gear 85 begins to mesh with the teeth of gear 102. The gear 102 has acontinuous positive mechanical rotation and, consequently, it imparts a positive mechanical rotation to the gear 85 until the other flat side of that gear comes opposite the gear 102.

The rotation of gear 85 through substantially 180 causes the crank pin 87 to turn from its upper center position, illustrated in Figs. 2 and to its lower center position illustrated in Fig. 3, thereby forcing the link 88 down and swinging the deflector 61 to the position shown in Fig. 3. This shifting of the deflector 61 occurs in the interval between the instant the rear edge of the first sheet leaves the rolls 59, and the instantthe forward edge of the second sheet begins to be engaged by these rolls. Consequently when the second sheet advances through the rolls the deflector 61 is in position to guide the sheet downwardly against the guide plate 109 and thence onto the lower belt 110.

The forward and rear edges of the second sheet act upon the shoe 69 in the same way as did the corresponding edges of the first. sheet, and the lip 82 of lever 81 is thus caused first to disengage finger 83 and then finger 81 after which there is a half turn imparted to shaft 86 through the mechanism above descrilxad, still in the counterclockwise direction. The crank 87, therefore, completes its revolution and the link 88 is again raised into the position of Fig. 2, whereby the deflector is returned to the position of that figure and the cycle of operations is ready to be repeated.

The above sorting mechanism, while satisfactory for the purpose intended, is included herein merely by way of example, as other mechanisms for performing the same funct on could be substituted without departing from the spirit of the invention. This particular sorting mechanism is described and claimed in my copending application, Sm. No. 263,891, filed March 22, 1928.

Other variations from the described structure may be resorted to. Accordingly I desire it to be understood that the scope of the invention is to be regarded as defined exclusively by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or the accompanying illustration.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a buckle-type folding machine. means for feeding a quadruple size sheet through a cutter to divide it into double size sheets, means associated with said cutter for imparting a fold to each double size sheet. a cross feed table for the reception of said folded double size sheets side by side. said table being adapted to feed said double size sheets through cutter mechanism for dividing them into single sheets, two further sheet carriers each of which is adapted to receive pairs of single sheets from said cross feed table, and

means for separately stacking the sheets of each pair. 7

2. In a buckle-type folding machine, means for feeding quadruple size sheets, a cutter for dividing said sheets into double size sheets, means associated with said cutter for imparting a fold to each double size sheet, a cross feed carrier for the reception of said folded double size sheets side by side, cutter mechanism adapted to act upon the double size sheets moving upon said cross feed carrier to divide them into single sheets, two further sheet carriers arranged in cooperative relation with said cross feed carrier, each of said further sheet carriers being adapted to receive pairs of single sheets from said cross feed carrier, and means for separately stacking the sheets of each pair as they are delivered from said further carriers.

3. In a paper handling machine, means for feeding a sheet of paper, means for slitting said paper parallel to its line of movement during said movement, means for feeding the separate divisions of said sheet in their forward travel through the machine, means for slitting said divisions parallel to their lines of movement during said move ment, means for imparting folds to said paper during its travel through the machine and, means for separately stacking the individual parts of each division. 4. In a paper handling machine, means for feeding a sheet of paper,-means for slitting said paper parallel to its line of movement during said movement, means for feeding the separate divisions of said sheet in different directions, means forv slitting said divisions parallel. to their lines of movement during said movement, means for imparting folds to said paper during its travel through the machine and means forseparately stacking the indvidual parts of each division.

5. In a paper handling machine, means for feeding a sheet of paper, means for slitting said paper parallel to its line of movement during said movement, and means for feeding the separate divisions of said sheet in their forward travel through the machine, separate means for slitting each of said divisions parallel to its line of movement durin said movement, means for imparting folds to said paper during its travel through the machine and means for separately stacking the individual parts of each division.

6. In a paper handling machine, means for feeding a sheet of paper, means for slitting said sheet parallel to its line of movement during said movement, a single feed table adapted to receive the divisions of said sheet and feed them through the machine in opposite directions transversely to the first said line of movement, and separate folding means arranged in the path of each of said divisions.

7. In a paper handling machine, means for feeding a sheet of paper, means for slitting said sheet parallel to its line of movement during said movement, means for feeding the divisions of said sheet through the machine in opposite directions transversely to the first said line of movement, means for slitting said divisions parallel to their lines of movement during said movement, means for imparting folds to said paper during its travel through the machine and means for separately stacking the individual parts of each division.

8. In a paper handling machine, means for feeding a sheet of paper, means for slitting said sheet parallel to its line of movement during said movement, means for feeding the divisions of said sheet through the machine in opposite directions transversely to the first said line of movement, means for slitting said divisions parallel to their lines of movement during said movement, means for feeding the individual parts of each division in single file relation in a direction parallel with said first named line of movement, means for imparting folds to said paper during its travel through the machine and means for separately stacking said individual parts.

9. In a paper handling machine, means for feeding a sheet of paper, means for slitting said sheet parallel to its line of movement during said movement, means for feeding the divisions of said sheet through the machine in opposite directions transversely to the first said line of movement, means for slitting said divisions parallel to their lines of movement during said movement, means for feeding the individual parts of each division in single file relation in adirection parallel with said first named line of movement, means for imparting folds to said paper during its travel through the machine, means for separately stacking said individual parts comprising a deflector, and means for moving the deflector to guide said individual parts into either of two different courses, said last named means being adapted to be set in motion by the travel of said individual parts.

10. In amachine of the class described, means for folding a sheet of paper, means for trimming one edge of the sheet along a line at right angles to the line of the fold, a

conveyor for causing said folded sheet to travel with its trimmed edge forward, and a folding mechanism arranged to receive the sheets from said conveyor.

11. In amachine of the class described, folding mechanism, means for guiding one side edge of paper sheets entering said mechanism', means for trimming the opposite edge of the sheet along a line parallel to the guided edge, means for slitting the sheet along aline parallel to the guided edge thereof, means for feeding the divisions of the sheet away from each other along lines parallel with the folded edges, and separate folding means adapted to receive said guided edge Mid and trimmed edge, whereby cross folds may be imparted to the divisions of the sheet along lines at right angles to the first named fold lines.

12. In a machine of the class described, folding mechanism, means for guiding one side cage of paper sheets entering said mechanism, means for trimming the opposite edge of the sheet along a line parallel to the guided edge, means for slitting the sheet along a line parallel to the guided edge thereof, means for feeding the divisions of the sheet away from each other along lines parallel with tl folded edges, means for slitting one of said divisions along a line parallel with said folded edge, means for feeding the individual parts of said division in a direction parallel with the direction of movement of the original sheet, and means for separately stacking said individual parts.

13. In a machine of the class described, means for imparting folds to paper sheets, means associated with said folding means for cutting each sheet into a plurality of divisions, means for causing part of said divisions to move in one path and part in another path, means in each of said paths for cross-folding said divisions, and means in each of said paths for cutting said divisions into plurality of individual parts.

14-. In a machine of the class described, means for imparting folds to paper sheets, means associated with said folding means for cutting each sheet into a plurality of divisi as, means for causing part of said divisions to move in one path and part in another path, means in each of said paths for cross-folding said divisions. means in each of said paths for cutting said divisions into a plurality of individual parts, and means for iniparting to said individual parts further folds parallel to the first named folds.

15. In a paper handling machine, means for feeding a sheet of paper, means for slitting said sheet parallel to its line of movement during said movement, means for feeding the divisions of said sheet through the machine in opposite directions transversely to the first said line of movement, means for slitting said divisions pa allel to their lines of movement during said movement, means for feeding the individual parts of each division in single file relation in a direction parallel with said first named line of movement, means for imparting folds to said paper during its travel through the machine and means for separately stacking said individual parts con'iprising a deflector.

16. In a folding machine of the class described, a first foldin means, means associated with said first folding means for cutting the sheets into two parts, two sets of cross-folders, and feeding devices located in the same horizontal plane for directing the halves of the cut sheets into said cross-folders respectively.

17. In a paper handling machine, means for feeding a sheet of paper, means for slitting said paper parallel to its line of movement during said movement, a single feed table for receiving the separate divisions of said sheet and operating continuously for feeding them in different directions, and means beyond the delivery ends of said table for separately stacking said divisions.

18. In a machine of the class described, means for imparting folds to paper sheets, means associated with said folding means for cutting each sheet into a lurality of divisions, a single feed table For receiving said divisions and for causing part of them to move in one path and part in another path, and means in each of said paths for crosst'olding said divisions.

19. In a. machine of the class described, means for imparting folds to paper sheets, means associated with said folding means for cutting each sheet into a lurality of divi sions, a single feed table for receiving said divisions and for causing part of them ,to move in one path and part in another path, means in each of said paths for cross-folding said divisions, and means for imparting to the paper further folds parallel to the first named folds.

20. In a machine of the class described, means for imparting folds to paper sheets, means associated with said folding means for cutting each sheet into a plurality of divisions, asingle feed table for receiving said divisions and for Causing part of them to move in one path and part in another path, and a single fold section in each of said paths for crossfolding one at a time all of the divisions traversing that path.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

REUBEN HITCHCOCK. 

